You Could Be Thrown in Jail for Leaving Your Trash Cans on the Curb in Kalamazoo

What a bunch of garbage! The harshest fine for repeat offenders who don't roll their trash bins away from the curb is imprisonment.

We've all got one of those neighbors. The guy who leaves his trash and recycle bins by the curb for a day or two after the trucks have gone by and picked everything up. Did you know that's actually illegal in Kalamazoo? Garbage day is just one day and is not meant to stretch all week.

City Code dictates that containers are not to be placed at the curb "not earlier than 8:00 p.m. of the day preceding his/her collection day, and said container must be removed from the curbside (or streetside if there is no curb) not later than 11:00 p.m. of his/her collection day."

The first offense is a $25 fine which doubles to $50 for repeat offenders. Those guilty of chronic laziness or forgetfulness, career criminals, may be sentenced more harshly for third and subsequent offenses.

Any person, firm or corporation found guilty of violating any provision of this article for the third time, or any subsequent time thereafter, within any one-year period shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both fined and imprisoned, in the discretion of the court.